Edisto rated 6th most endangered nationally

This just in from the Conservation Voters of South Carolina:

Friends,

This morning, the Edisto River was named as the 6th Most Endangered River in the United States. As the longest free-flowing blackwater river in the country, the Edisto is both a state and national treasure. As I told The Aiken Standard, the Edisto wouldn’t be on the list if it “wasn’t such an iconic, beautiful river.”

But, as you may know, the Edisto’s future is in jeopardy as a result of excessive agricultural withdrawals that can take up to 35% of the river’s flow during summer months. Republican leaders like Senator Chip Campsen have made preserving the Edisto a priority by proposing amendments to our Surface Water Permitting Act.

But…..Governor Haley has spoken not a word about the Edisto. Perhaps now that the issue has national attention, she will finally let us know where she stands.

You can let the Governor know where you stand by clicking here. Thank you for supporting one of South Carolina’s most special places.

Sincerely,

Ann Timberlake

For some reason, the release didn’t mention specifically the big potato farm controversy. Maybe it just assumes we have that context. (Nor does it mention American Rivers, the group calling the Edisto one of the most endangered.) The release was in too much of a hurry to talk about the governor…

Anyway, The State explained the new designation in terms of the potato farm thing.

14 thoughts on “Edisto rated 6th most endangered nationally”

  1. Doug Ross

    I’m impressed that clicking on the link DOESN’T bring you to website asking for money… it just takes you to a page that allows you to send a message to SC political leaders.

    1. Mab

      …allows you to send a message…

      I’ve a message for a certain ‘Low[ball]country’ real estate tool, but present company won’t allow me to send it.

  2. Bryan Caskey

    It’s certainly a balancing act. On one hand, you have to allow agriculture to continue to be viable. It’s a large part of South Carolina’s economy. Against that, you have to ensure that the natural resources continue to be there for everyone else to use.

    I’ll admit, I don’t know that much about water rights disputes about irrigation. It’s always seemed like an issue for the states out West. One thing that puzzled me a little in reading the pieces at the link was how it emphasized that the water could be taken from the river in large quantities “even in times of extreme drought”.

    I know that the drought would affect the river, but it would also affect the farmers. Isn’t that when they would need the water the most? It just struck me as a funny note. I could just picture a farmer saying “Well, yeah. It’s a drought. I need some extra water!”

        1. Doug Ross

          Saw the Doobie Brothers sometime around 1979 in Boston, MA. Was deeply offended when they pandered to the crowd during “Black Water” by singing “Massachusetts moon won’t you keep on shining…”

  3. Kathryn Fenner

    I grew up going to Aiken State Park, which is all along the gorgeous, unique black Edisto. My brother says it is the longest black water river in the world. It must be preserved!

      1. Kathryn Fenner

        Black water is a term of art, referring to the high tannins that indeed make the water tea colored.

          1. Kathryn Fenner

            Because tannin makes tea “black,” too. You don’t drink that foreign green tea stuff, or, heaven forfend, white tea, or tea that isn’t even from camellia sinensis, like rooibos? Herbal “tea”?

            I like how the rivers that run through Columbia turn chai latte after an especially heavy rain!

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